Sadanand Date to be new chief of Force One

Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date, who received President's Police Medal for bravery during the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, will be the new chief of Force One, the specialised commando unit of Maharashtra formed on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG), sources said.

Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date, who received President's Police Medal for bravery during the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, will be the new chief of Force One, the specialised commando unit of Maharashtra formed on the lines of National Security Guard (NSG), sources said.

Date, who is the additional police commissioner (Central region), will replace S. Jagannathan, who is going on a foreign assignment and will be part of the Interpol, they said.

Date, along with his senior Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare and colleagues Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, fought with terrorists Ajmal Kasab and his aide Abu Ismail during the attacks, at Cama hospital in south Mumbai.

Date had sustained grievous injuries while Karkare, Kamte and Salaskar died fighting the terrorists.

During the siege, the NSG, flown in from New Delhi was pressed into action to fight the terrorists and bring situation under control.

Following the attacks, the state government formed the Force One to act swiftly against terrorists in case of attacks. The unit, consisting of commandos who had undergone rigorous training, has been equipped with high-end weapons including AK-47s.